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Henry Walker was born abt. 1690 in Paxany, Londonderry, Ireland, and died Apr 1742 in Derry Township, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He married (1) UNKNOWN Bef. 1715. He married (2) ANN Bef. 1716. is one of six immigrant members of the Letterkenny Walker Lineage. He settled about 1736 on Swatera Creek in what is now Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, near his son James. Henry died soon after (c1742), and son James Walker died a few years later (c.1748).
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(Derry Walkers likely YDNA Group 5)
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Children of HENRY WALKER Agnes and ANN are:
Benjamin was the eldest son. On 18 Apr 1769 there was deed between John Walker Jr. and Jane his wife to James Walker, brother of John, in which it is stated that the Administrators of Henry Walker have paid off the Legatees, which include Henry Walker Jr., son of Benjamin Walker, eldest son of said Henry, deceased; this is the earliest dated record that shows Benjamin as deceased.
About 1732. Pennsylvania
[Charlou Dolan: Henry Walker was supposedly born in Ireland. He settled in Derry Twp., Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania (later Dauphin Co.). He received a warrant for land in Derry Township, Lancaster Co., in 1749. Pennsylvania land warrants are indexed under the county the land is presently in, since the indexing was done in the 20th century. Therefore, we need to look at the warrant index for Dauphin County, as the land is in that county today. A map of the land warrants shows Henry's land adjacent to that of John Walker, and only slightly separated from that of James Walker. The land of David Walker is at the southern edge of the township, while the land of the other three is at the northern edge. Due to the proximity of the lands of Henry Walker, John Walker, and James Walker, it is entirely possible that they were brothers, as has so often been stated by various people, who have, however, always failed to cite a source for this "fact." On the other hand, it is also possible that they were first cousins, second cousins, or not even related.].
INVENTORY
Henry Walker inventory is on file in the Lancaster County Historical Society: "October 29th 1766. [signed] Robt. Wallace James Wilson. Exhibited into the Registers Office at Lancaster this 19th Day of November 1766. [signed] Agnes (her mark) Walker. [signed] John Walker Junr., Administrators. Sworn before me by the Admors. Exd Die. [signed] Edw.d Shippen".
APPOINTMENT OF ADMINISTRATORS.
Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania, Administration Bond Book 1, page 478: Benjamin Cher__, Register General for the Probate of Wills, granting Letters of Administration in and for the Province of Pennsylvania and Counties of Newcastle Kent and Sussex on Delaware. To Agnes Walker Widow & John Walker junr. Eldest Son of Henry Walker late of Derry Township in the County of Lancaster yeoman deceased Greeting. Whereas the said Henry Walker lately died intestate (as is affirmed) he having, whilst he lived, and at the time of his Death, divers Goods, Chattles and Credits within the said Province and Counties by Means whereof the full Disposition and Power of granting the Administration of all and singular the Goods, Chattles and Credits of the said Decedent, and also auditing the Accounts Calculation and Reckoning of the said Administration, and a final dissmission from the same to me is manifestly known to belong. I desiring, that the Goods Chattles and Credits of the said Decedent may be well and truly administered, converted and disposed of to pious Uses, Do hereby grant unto you the said Agnes Walker & John Walker (in whose Fidelity in this behalf I very much confide) full Power by the Tenor or these Presents, to administer the Goods, Chattles and Credits of the said Decedent within the said Province and Counties: And also to Ask, collect, sue for levy, Recover and receive the Credits whatsoever of the said Decedent, which at the time of his Death were owing, or to him did in any wise belong, and to pay the Debts, in which the said Decedent stood obliged, so far forth, as the said Goods Chattles and Credits will extend according to the Rate and Order of Law, especially of well and truly administering the Goods, Chattles and Credits of the said Decedent and making a true and perfect Inventory of all and singular the Goods, Chattles and Credits of the said Decedent, and exhibiting the same into the Registers Office at Lancaster at or before the Ninteenth Day of December next ensuing and rendering a true and just Account, Calculation or Reckoning of the said Administration on or before the Ninteenth Day of November which will be in the Year of our Lord one Thousand seven hundred and sixty seven. And I do by these Presents ordain, constitute and depute you the said Agnes Walker and John Walker jur. Administrators of all and singular the Goods, Chattles and Credits of the said Decedent within the Limits aforesaid, saving harmless and for ever indemnifying me and all other Officers against all other Persons by Reason of your Administration aforesaid, and saving To every on their Rights. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and affixed my Seal of Office at Lancaster the Ninteenth Day of November in the Year of our Lord one Thousand Seven Hundred and sixty six. [signed] Edward Shippen Depty. Regr.
ADMINISTRATORS ACCOUNT.
The Administrators Account is on file at the Lancaster County Historical Society: "The Accompt of John Walker Administrator of all and singular the Goods and Chattels Rights and Credits which were of Henry Walker late of the County of Lancaster deced. as well of all and singular the Goods and Chattles of the said deced as of his payments and Disbursements out of the same viz. Imprimis, the said accountant charges himself with all and singular the goods Chattles Rights and Credits of the said deced according to an Inventory thereof exhibited into and remaining in the Registers Office at Lancaster amounting to 118£ 7 S 2 P. Exhibited into the Registers office at Lancaster the 2d. Day of Decem'r Anno Domini 1767. John Walker.
Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania, [some sort of Court Minute Book], page 329: 2 Dec 1767 - John Walker Administrator of all and singular the Goods and Chattles Rights and Credits which were of Henry Walker deceased produced to the Court the Account of his Administration on the Estate of the said deceased duly passed before the Deputy Registrar whereby there Appears a Balance in his favour of £33..15..4¾ which the Court Allows and Approves of and directs that the said Ballance together with the expences of this Court, to wit, 12/ be by him charged against the Estate of the deceased.
PETITION OF JOHN & MARY WALKER.
A petition was filed in Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania, by John Walker on 26 Mar 1768: "Upon the Petition of John Walker & Mary his Wife which same Mary is eldest Daughter of Henry Walker late of Derry Township in the County of Lancaster Yeoman deceased setting forth that the said Henry Walker lately died intestate seized and possessed of a certain Messuage, Sawmill & Tract of Land thereto belonging situate in Derry Township aforesaid Containing five hundred and thirty Acres besides the Usual Allowance for Roads and High Ways leaving Issue five sons and Two daughters besides Mary the Petitioner and Agnes the Wife of the same Henry: that the Petitioners are willing and desirous to hold and enjoy the Messuage Saw Mill & Tract of Land aforesaid in Case the Sons of the said Henry refuse to Accept the same, etc...It is ordered by the court that the Sheriff of the county of Lancaster do forthwith summon a Jury to view the Messuage Saw Mill and Tract of Land...etc.". [Charlou Dolan: John Walker [son-in-law] and his wife Mary Walker [daughter of Henry] petitioned to be allowed to keep the entire tract, paying the other heirs their share, rather than splitting the land. The court ordered the sheriff to appoint a jury to view the land and make a decision and report back to the next court. Searches of later court records have failed to turn up any other mention of Henry Walker's land in Lancaster County Court records, so if the jury reported back to the court, their findings were not recorded.].
LANCASTER CO., PENNSYLVANIA, DEEDS.
The only further land record concerning Henry Walker in Lancaster County, is the sale of 270 acres of land from James Walker to John Walker. The only description of the land given is that it was part of a farm formerly belonging to Henry Walker, deceased, & divided by James Campbell, Hew Hase, John Dickson & James Willson. The deed is dated 6 Nov 1767, recorded 12 Mar 1768, and the mortgage evidently paid off 9 Sep 1769. There is no further mention of this property in the deed books of Lancaster Co. The land is situated in the part of Lancaster Co. which in 1785 became Dauphin County, so the deeds of Dauphin County were checked with great success.
SALE OF HENRY'S LAND BY SON JOHN.
As for the following deed dated 7 Mar 1771, note that the attached acknowledgements by the other heirs, giving up their rights in the land to John, were signed in 1767 and 1768.
Dauphin County Book A-1, pages 228-230 [legalese omitted and paragraphing added]: This Indenture made the Seventh Day of March in the Eleventh year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith etc. and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy one Between John Walker of the Township of London Derry in the County of Lancaster and Province of Pennsylvania xxx and Jean his wife of the one part and Felix Landis of the same township county and Province of the other part. Whereas the Honorable Thomas Penn and Richard Penn Esquires Proprietaries of the Province of Pennsylvania did by their Patent dated the fourteenth day of January one thousand seven hundred and seventy one and recorded in the Rolls office in Philadelphia in Patent Book Act Vol. 11 [?] page 483 and certified under the Seal of the said office by William Penn Recorder the fourteenth Day of January one thousand seven hundred and seventy one Grant and confirm unto John Walker aforesaid a certain Tract ...of land called Walker's Rang Situate ...in the township of Londonderry aforesaid Being one half of a tract of land that was surveyed to a certain Henry Walker deceased and Since released by the heirs of the said Henry Walker to the said John Walker bounded as follows to wit. Beginning at a marked Maple at the Side of Swellora Creek thence by Vincent Cooper's Land S. 83 degrees E. 110 Perches to a marked white oak. S. 30 degrees E. 93 Perches to a marked black oak. S. 85 degrees E. 50 perches to a Post. S. 40 degrees E. 20 perches to a marked white oak. thence by William Leitches Land S. 1 degree E. 97 Perches to a white oak Grub. thence by James Walker's part of the 535 acre tract S. 69 degrees W. 183 perches to a marked Hickery. N. 73 degrees W. 76 Perches to a Post. N. 34 degrees E. 21 perches to a marked Thorn. N. 47 degrees W. 88 perches to a marked Elm at the side of Swettara Creek aforesaid. thence up the Said creek along the courses thereof 205 perches to the Place of Beginning,. containing 267 acres and 1/2 acre and the allowance of 6% for Roads etc. as by the said patent... that the said John Walker and Jean his wife for... 1050 pounds lawful money... paid by the said Felix Landas... signed by John Walker and Jean (her mark) Walker. Witnessed by Ulrich Wiltman and Jacob Micher. Lancaster County and Province of Pennsylvania September the 23d. day 1767 then received of John Walker Executor of Henry Walker deceased Estate and James Walker his Brother the full Sum of forty Eight pounds to me in hand paid which Sum being full satisfaction for me my Heirs, etc., for ever of Said Estate I Say Rec.d this 23d Day of September in the year 1767. [signed] Henry Walker Witness present: Felix Landis, James Willson. [ditto, 15 Sep] signed by William Walker and witnessed by Frederick Hummel and Adam Haberling. [ditto, 15 Sep] signed by Robert Walker and witnessed by Frederick Hommel and Adam Haberling. [ditto] signed by John & Grizel Fleming [?] and witnessed by Frederick Hummel and Adam Haberling. [ditto 28 Oct] signed by Margaret McCary [or Mclary] and witnessed by James (his mark) Campbell and John (his mark) Hover. London Derry Township 10th October 1768. These are to certify that we do hereby discharge Anne Walker and John Walker Junr. Adm.rs to the Estate of Henry Walker decd. in, or, to, and from all our Right Title Claim and Demand whatso ever to our Patrimony due us from the Estate of Henry Walker deceased for and in consideration of twelve Pounds Pennsylvania currency to us in hand paid by the said Anne and John Walker the Day and year above written as witness our hands and seals. [signed] John Walker and Mary Walker. witnesses: James Willson, Bartman Galbreath.
Charlou Dolan: The above deed and all of the releases were recorded in Dauphin Co., Pennsylvania, 9 Jan 1786, almost 20 years after they were signed. I have not yet found out if the original receipts survive, perhaps in an estate file for John Walker or for someone else (about the only place such papers have a chance of surviving). It is also interesting to note, re the sale witness Felix Landis, that a John Landis, weaver, lived in Lancaster Co. about this time, and designed so many beautiful patterns for weaving coverlets, that he is still famous today, at least among hand weavers.
LAND SALE FROM JOHN JR. TO JAMES.
Deed book C, vol. 1, pages 205-207: This Indenture made this Eighteenth day of April Anno Domini one Thousand seven hundred and sixty nine Between John Walker Junr. of London derry Township and county of Lancaster and Province of Pennsylvania, and Jane his wife of the one part and James Walker brother of the said John of the same place Yeoman of the other part. Whereas the Honorable the proprietaries by their Warent bearing date 15 Dec 1749 did grant unto Henry Walker of said twp. a certain Tract of Land Containing 535 acres and allowances by the Survey Thereof May more fully appear Reference hereunto being had Now Know Ye that whereas the said Henry Walker by a Sudden death died Intestate the said John Walker (son of the said Henry) and his Mother the Widow became Administrator of said Estate. Know further that the said Administrators hath fully paid off and forever satisfyed all other of the Legatees, viz, Henry Walker Jr. son of Benjamin Walker Eldest son of said Henry decd, and Mary, Robert, William, Grizel, & Margareth Walker, Heirs of the sd. Henry decd. and their heirs... as by their several discharges may more fully and at large appear. witnesseth that the said John Walker and Jane his wife for ... the sum of 700 pounds... paid by the said James Walker... all that half of said Tract of Land lying and being next John Walkers Sr. place. Beginning at an Alam Tree on the brink of Sweetarow Creek thence by the said John Walker Jr. land S. 47 E. 88 perches to a Thorn. thence S. 34 W. 21 to a post in the lane. thence S. 70 E. 76 and an half perches to a hickory at the end of said Lane. thence N. 69 E. 183 perches to a hickory this being the Devision line between said Brothers,. thence by William Leeches Land S. one E. 35 to a Black Oak. thence S. 48 E. 20 to a white oak. thence S. 21 W. 26 perches to a hickory. Thence south 14 East 70 to a hickory a corner. thence by George Henry's land W. 57 perches to a Black oak. Thence S. 16 W. 54 to a Black Oak a Corner of John Walkers Junr. Land. N. 75 W. 90 perches to a White Oak. thence N. 50 E. 40 and a half perches to a Black Oak. thence N. 15 W. 29 to a white oak. thence W. 149 to a hickory. Thence N. 55 W. 96 perches to a black oak. thence N. 12 E. 90 perches to Swatara Creek. thence up said creek on the several turns thereof 81 perches to the place of beginning,. Containing 267 acres and a half ... [signed] John Walker and Jean (her mark) Walker. Witnesses: Chris'r Wegman and David Allen. [Note: It does not say when it was recorded.].
Sources to check:
While not completely verified, there are many reasons to believe that Henry Walker was part of YDNA Group 5[2].
Regarding his son Robert Walker:
"2006: note from Jim Opfell: Robert Walker is taxed in 1759'west end of Derry.' In 1775 a Robert is listed in Wiconisco(Upper Paxtang)(now Dauphin Co.) In the Archives of the Hamilton Library in Carlisle is a genealogy of one Robeert Walker of Virginia, which I didn't pay much attention to. I have found a Spencer Walker in Hampshire Co. and I have placed him in this family, but need to complete this research (i.e. obtain the Hamilton MS). He also is listed as a renter from Thomas Rutherford for L10 per year in 1758. A Robert Walker was on the list of Taxibles in Wisconsico Valley in 1775."
See also:
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